Boring or drilling machine and work holding clamp



June 2, 1953 F. l. JOHNSON 2,640,515

BORING 0R DRILLING MACHINE AND WORK HOLDING CLAMP Filed April 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l fled! (fa/222.5022

BORING OR DRILLING MACHINE AND WORK HOLDING C AMP Filed April 14, 1948 F. l. JOHNSON June 2, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -miw $4. LII

June 2, 1953 .F. l. JOHNSON BORING 0R DRILLING MACHINE AND WORK HOLDING CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 14, 1948 Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE BORING OR DRILLING MACHINE AND WORK HOLDING CLAMP Fred 1. Johnson, Sheboygan, Wis assignor to Reiss Manufacturing Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1948, Serial No. 20,924

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a boring or drilling machine and, more particularly, to: an automatic machine for boring one or more holes in predetermined relation in wood, metal, or other work pieces. The invention is particularly adapted for use in the wood working art, for instance, in the manufacture of furniture, inthe production of holes adapted to receive dowel pins, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a power actuated boring machine which is of unusual simplicity in construction, comprising a minimum of parts, is not likely to get out of order, is rugged and adapted for long, troublefree use.

A further object is to providemeans for automatically advancing the boring instrumentality into the work at a predetermined, adjustable rate.

Another object is to provide automatic means for determinating the distance of the. advance of the drill or drills and to return them to their initial, starting position.

A further object is to provide, in combination with a boring machine, a power actuated work clamping mechanism and cooperating means between the boring machine and the mechanism, serving automatically to actuate the latter, tohold the work in predetermined position, when the operation of the boring machine is initiated. In this connection, another object is to provide an interrelation between the drilling and clamping mstrumentalities in the machine, whereby the clamp is actuated automatically as. the drill approaches the work and: is released automatically, after the drilling has been completed and. when thedrillinginstrumentalities have been returned to their original, starting position. v

A further object of the invention is to provide improved, fluid control and actuating systems for boring machines and work clamping devices associated therewith, to the end that the operations of the machine may be initiated manually, and automatically and adjustably controlled throughout a complete cycle, and the work clamping means controlled automatically, in timed relation to the operations of the boring machine.

Another object. of the invention is to provide a unitary boring machine which may receive, interchangeably, a plurality of different types of boring heads, and which, itself, may be. mounted upon suitable supports, in any desired relation to the workclamping mechanism, so as to appreach the work at any desired angle. As noted 7 approach and operate upon the work from a plurality of diflerent angles.

Other and. further objects and advantages of the invention will'be apparent from a consideration of the following description of a specific embodiment, shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation on a reduced scale, showing a clamping mechanism and two boring units, arranged to operate upon a work piece at an angle of substantially Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view, showing the boring machine, one form of work clamp and. the fluid control system;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the boring machine;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the 4--4 of. Figure 3;

Figure 4a is. a section on line err-44! of Figure 3;

line

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section and, partial side elevation taken on line 5-5 of.

Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal, verti-v cal-section taken on line ti -6 of Figure 3';

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of the valve shown in Figure 5, in the opposite position; and.

Figure 8 is a view of the-valve shown in Figure 6, in the opposite position.

Asindicated in Figure 1, a pair of boring ma chine units Inand' H may be mounted upon horizontal and vertical. frame elements [2 and [3, carried by a post I4 and re-enforced by a brace IE, or the'like. The supporting structure may be positioned adjacent a channel frame member H5 or the like, carried by a post l'l, upon,

, chine unit comprises. a base. casting 22. having at its forward end an integral, upwardly projecting cylinder block 23, provided with a. cylindrical interior. 24,, and, at its rear-end, an. upwardly projecting enlarged boss 25,, centrally bored to provide a bearing support, as hereinafter described.

The opposite ends of the cylinder 24 are closed strained against axial movement with respect thereto by contractible snap rings 38, disposed in suitable annular grooves in the periphery of the sleeve. On opposite sides of the rings 33, bumper rings 39 of rubber or the like may be arranged to absorb shock, as the piston 3! approaches the heads 26 and 21 at opposite ends of the cylinder.

The rear end of the sleeve 36 is circumferentially shouldered, as at 42 for the reception of a cup member 43, held in place by set screws 44 and serving as a housing for the outer race of a ball bearing assembly 45, the inner race of which supports an enlarged portion 46 of an inner shaft 41, constituting the drive shaft for the drill head, as hereinafter explained.

Between the cup member 43 and the cylinder head 21, the sleeve 36 carries a stroke adjusting block 50 which may be clamped upon the sleeve in longitudinally adjusted position, to limit the stroke of the piston and the sleeve. This member may comprise a generally U-shaped split block having a circular central bore provided with a soft metal lining i. A clamping screw 52 may be used for tightly drawing the legs of the block together, to clamp the block on thesleeve at any desired position of longitudinal adjustment.

The hollow boss 25 projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base constitutes a support for the outer race of a ball bearing assembly 55, which may be held against longitudinal movements by a pair of expansible snap rings 56, disposed in annular grooves formed in the interior thereof. An elongated hub 51, made of bronze or other bearing material, is mounted for rotation with the inner race of the bearing assembly 55, and carries a V belt pulley 58, on its rear end, held in position by set screws 59. The hub is provided with a splined interior surface 60, mating with the splined rear end BI of the shaft 41. Hence, relative rotation between pulley 58, hub 51 and shaft 41 is prevented, but the shaft may reciprocate axially through the hub 51. The pulley 58, of course, could be replaced by a gear, which could be driven through a gear train from a suitable source of power.

At its forward end, the hollow shaft or sleeve 36 is pressed into the central bore of a hub 65 having an inwardly projecting, intermediate flange 66, against which the end of the sleeve I3, to prevent axial movement of the shaft relative to the bearing 10, and that the forward end face of the shaft is provided with a forwardly projecting diametric rib I4.

As best shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the side faces of the cylinder block 23 carry combined valve housings and guide blocks I5 and I6, held in place by suitable cap screws TI and I8. The blocks are provided with longitudinally extending cylindrical bores I9 and 80 through which guide rods 8I and 32 extend for axial sliding movement, the rods having at their forward ends and 80, to facilitate sliding movement of the guide rods therethrough. It will be understood that the guide rods permit longitudinal movement of the face plate, but positively prevent turning movement thereof.

Referring to Figure 3, the combined valve housing and guideblock I6 is provided with a cylindrical bore 86, constituting a valve chamber, closed at its forward end by a threaded plug 81, and having a reduced rear end 88 in which a bronze sleeve 89 is disposed for the reception in fluid-tight relation of a valve stem, hereinafter described.

The valve chamber 8S, adjacent its rear end but spaced therefrom, has a port 90 communicating with a passage 9| in the cylinder block 23 opening into the rear end of the cylinder 24. At a point substantially mid-way in the length of the valve chamber 86, there is another port 92 communicating with a passage 93, formed in the wall of block I6 and communicating with a port 95, leading into the forward end of the cylinder 24. At the extreme rear end of the valve chamber 86, there is another port 96, leading directly to the atmosphere.

As shown in Figure 5, the upper portion of the block (6 is provided with three threaded bores or ports Bl, 98 and 99, to which are connected, respectively, a pipe I00, an air escape fitting II" and a pipe I612. The fitting IiII includes an adjustable screw H13, adapted to meter the flow of air from the interior of the valve chamber, to the atmosphere, during a certain position of the valve body, as hereinafter explained.

Within the valve chamber, there is disposed .for sliding movement, a valve body I05 having three enlargements or heads I06, I0! and I08, making substantially fluid-tight, sliding engagement with the inner surface of the chamber 86 and providing two circumferentially continui one, reduced areas I09 and H0. The rear end of abuts, an exteriorly threaded terminal portion 61, an outwardly projecting rear flange 68, and a cylindrical, enlarged interior 69 at its forward end. The enlargement 69 receives the outer race of a ball bearing assembly ID, the inner race adapted to deliver air, when manually. actuated,

to the pipe I00, and adapted, when released, to

permit escape of air from pipe Illil to atmosphere through a vent I I8.

Air under pressure also may flow from the union I I4 to the valve casing through pipe I02, heretofore mentioned.

The valve mechanism and the system just described-operateasfollowsz' Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figures 2 7, the push button. II'l (Figure 2) isoperated to deliver pressure air to pipe we and through the valve control port 91 to the forward end of the valve chamber, ahead of the piston-like headiBS of the valve body, thereby immediately driving the valve body rearwardly from the position shown in Figure 7, to that shown in Figures 3 and 5. Air under pressure now flows from-pipe Hi2 through the power fluid inlet port 99 into the space lI-ll between heads It? and its through port 9|; and passage 9], to the rear end of the cylinder 2%, behind pistont'l, thus tending to move the cylinder and the associated parts forwardly. The air in the cylinder ahead of the piston is in communication through port 95, passage 93' and port 92 with the space E09, between enlargement Hi6 and H11 and this space, in turn, is in communication through port 83 with the metered escape fitting 50!. Hence, the air is permitted to escape to the atmosphere at an accurately controlled rate, depending upon the position of adjustment of screw I33, which, in turn, controls the speed of advance of the piston and the parts associated therewith.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the guide rod 82 carries an. adj'ustably mounted block 12s, consisting of a split, U-shaped element having its legs projecting upwardly and adapted to be drawn together in clamping relation by a screw lZI. By loosening the screw, theblockmay be shifted longitudinally along the shaft and secured. in the desired, adjusted position, by tight enirig the screw The block projects upwardly into axial alignment with the valve store I l I and, as the piston, the face plate '12 and the guide rods BI and 52 move forwardly, under the influence of the pressure air, as just described, the block engages the rear end of the stem HI and moves the stem and the valve body 95 for ward'ly, or to the left, from the position shown in Figures 3 and 5 to the position shown in Figure 7.

When this occurs, the air in the chamber 85, between the head I66 and the plug 8'! flows through the pipe I130 and escapes to atmosphere through port IE8 of valve housing IIB. Simul taneously, air under pressure from power fluid pipe I62 flows through the space IIO between enlargements Hi7 and N38 to port 92,,and from this point through passage 93 (Figure 3') to port 95, ahead of the piston 31, thereby tending to drive the same rearwardly. The air behind the iston 3I' may flow, unhindered, to atmosphere through passage G'I port til and the space behind the head it'll; in the valve chamber and through the second escape port 96. Thus, the return of the parts to their original position is efiected and they remain in this position until the valve body is again shifted rearwardly, by the delivery of air from the valve Hi? to the space ahead of the valve body I05. 1

Referring to Figures 3, 6 and 8, the combined guide block and valve housing '35 is bored to provide a valve chamber I25; closed at its rear ward end, the chamber I25 hasan escape port I28- communicating directly with atmosphere.

In its top wall, the block is provided with a pair" V a h h of threaded ports IN and I38 to whiolrpipes ur'es- 3' and 5, the drill head is of the double stem" IM and: I32 are conne'cted. A cylindrical: vatv body 33; slidably mounted in: the valve chamber I25 in fluid-tight relation, has a forwardly: proj'ecting stem P34, extending through the'bushing I21. A compression spring I35 is coiled about the terminal portion: of the stem, between the head I 36' thereof and the forward end face of the block 15; thereby constantly urging the valve body forwardly to the left in. Figure 3 and to the right in Figures 6 and 8.

Referring to Figure '2, the line I32; which enters the chamber I25, behind the valve body [33, is incommunication with the union H4 and therefore, delivers air under-pressureto the valve chamber. The pipe l3I leads to the work clamping mechanism or assembly I'B. The latter may comprise a cylinder I38, to: the interior of which the pipe 18+ is connected, a piston" (not shown)- and a piston operated clamping member I39, normally heldin retracted, inoperative position by an internal spring or the like, not shown. The movable clamping jaw H9 cooperates with a fixed abutment or jaw M9, to hold the work in the desired position.

Wh'enthe parts are in the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6,'w-ith the face plate "I2 in its rearwardly retracted position, the plate is in abutment with the head I36 of valve stem I34, and the valve body I3'3- is in the rearwardlyproe iectedrposition, between ports I38 and I29, with the pipe I3I in communication with atmosphere through port I28; Henceytne spring associated with the clamping assembly I8 is elrectlve' to maintain the clamp open. ,When the'face plate andthe parts associated therewith start their forward movement; as'explained above; the plate moves away from the valvestem' ISA, permit ting the compression spring I35 to move the valve body iiltforwardly to the position shown in Figure 8. This movement establishes communicationfrom pipe I32 to pipe I 34 and blocks communicationbetween pipes I31 and the escapeport I28. Hence, air under pressure flows immediately through the, valve chamber to the cylinder I38, thereby projecting the clamp I39 into operative engagement with the work, to grip the same firmly, before the drill has reached the work for boring purposes. I The clamping mechanismremains in this operative position throughout the drilling operation and, continuously, until the completion thereof and until thedril lhead and. the face plate I2 have returned substantially to-their starting position. During the last portion of this-return movemerit, the face plate I2 engages the head I36 of the valve stem I34 and shifts the body i233 rearwardly to the position shown in Figures 3 and 6, thereby establishing communicationbetween the pipe I35 and the escape port 128, and cutting oif the supply of air under pressure from pipe I32 to pipe 13!. Hence, the spring associated with the clamp mechanism withdraws the work engaging member I38 and releases the work. Motive power for rotating the drive shaft 47 may be supplied by an electrical motor I45 (Figure 1) having a supporting bracketor base I it, secured by screws orthe equivalent upon the flat upper surfaces M7 and M8" of the cylinder block 23 and theenlarged boss 25, The motor is preferably provided with a V pulley M9, fast on its shaft P51} in alignment with the pulley 58 and connected thereto by a V belt l5I'.

As noted above; the face plat-e12 may constitute the support for any one of a, plurality of different types-of drill heads: I As shownin Fig- 7. type and comprises a cast housing I55 having a rear, marginal flange I56 secured by screws or the like to the face plate, and a forwardly projecting hollow boss II in which a pair of spaced ball bearing assemblies I58 and I59 are mounted for the reception of a drill spindle I60 having its rear end diametrically slotted as at I EI, for the reception of the rib I I on the drive shaft 41,

and carrying a drill bit receiving socket I62 at its forward end.

The spindle IBII may have secured to its rear portion a spur gear I63 in mesh with a similar spur gear I64 fast on a second spindle I65 journalled in ball bearing assemblies I68 and I61, carried by the forwardly projecting boss I51. The spindle I65 similarly carries at its outer end a drill bit receiving socket I68. Rotation, of course, is imparted to the second spindle from the first through the intermeshing gears in an opposite direction and drills of opposite hand should be used in the two sockets.

The gears, bearings and spindles in the drill head are enclosed by a rear cover plate I10, seated against a shoulder III and held in place by an expansible snap ring In disposed in a groove in the inner face of thehousing I55. Thus, the drill heads may be readily removed, as units, and replaced by other heads having different numbers or different spacings of drill bit holding spindles.

The operation of the valve for controlling the delivery of air to the cylinder 24, for advancing and retracting the drill head, and the operation of the valve I5 for controlling the delivery of air to the clamp has been described in detail above. In the normal operation of the apparatus, the manual valve H3 is opened, the motor I 45 is set in motion and a piece of work 2 Il is placed in the now open clamp. The pushbutton I I! is manually actuated, to deliver air to the left hand end of valve I6, whereuponthe body I85 is shifted to the right and air is delivered from the line I 02 through the valve to the right hand end of cylinder 24, thereby advancing the drill head toward the work. When the drill head moves away from rod I34 (Figure 3), the valve I33 in valve housing I5 is shifted by the spring I35, thereby delivering air to the cylinder I38 of the clamping mechanism, so that the work is clamped before the drill reaches it. When the drill has advanced to a predetermined depth in the work, the block I20 strikes the end of the valve stem I I I, shifting the valve to the position shown in Figure 7 so that air is delivered to the opposite end of the cylinder and the piston and drill head are retracted. When the drill head reaches the fully retracted position, the valve stem I36 is engaged thereby, the valve is shifted and the clamp is opened. The parts are now ready for the next cycle of operations.

It is thought that the structure and mode of operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. The invention, of course, is not limited to the details of construction described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A boring or drilling machine comprising a drill head, a rotatable drill actuating shaft connected to the head, a non-rotatable, reciprocable sleeve surrounding the shaft connected to the head, a cylinder through which the sleeve extends, a piston in the cylinder operatively connected to the sleeve to advance and retract the head, a combined valve housing and guide block secured to said cylinder, a shiftable valve in said housing for controlling the delivery and escape fluid to and from both ends of the cylinder alternately, fluid pressure means for shifting the valve to the position to advance the piston and said head, a reciprocable guide rod rigidly connected to the head for movement therewith and slidably disposed in said guide block to restrain said head against rotation, and means carried by the guide rod for engaging and shifting the valve to the other position after a predetermined advance of the head and the rod.

2. A boring or drilling machine comprising a drill head, a reciprocable guide rod rigidly connected thereto, and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a rotatable drill actuating shaft connected to the head, a non-rotatable reciprocable sleeve connected to the head, a cylinder through which the sleeve extends, a piston in the cylinder operatively connected to the sleeve to advance and retract the head, a shiftable valve for controlling the delivery and escape fiuid to and from both ends of the cylinder alternately, means for shifting the valve to advance the piston and said head, a guide block connected to the cylinder through which the guide rod extends, to restrain the head against rotation, and means carried by the guide rod and mounted for longitudinal adjustment thereon for engaging and shifting the valve to the other position after a predetermined advance of the head and the rod.

3. In combination, a work holding clamp and a boring machine positioned to operate upon Work held by said clamp, said clamp comprisin a fixed member and a normally retracted, movable work, engaging member, a cylinder-piston assembly connected to advance the movable member into work engaging relation when air under pressure is delivered thereto, and an air conduit leading to said assembly, said boring machine comprising a drill head movable toward and from said clamp, a shiftable valve arranged, in one position, to deliver air under pressure to said conduit and in the other position to permit discharge of air therefrom to atmosphere, an abutment carried by the head, positioned when the head is withdrawn from the clamp, to engage said valve and to maintain the same in the second mentioned position, said abutment being disengageable from the valve upon initiation of movement of the head toward the clamp, and means for shifting the valve to the first position when so disengaged by the abutment.

4. In combination, a work holding clamp and a boring machine positioned to operate upon work held by said clamp, said clamp comprising a fixed member and a normally retracted, movable work engaging member, a cylinder-piston assembly connected to advance the movable member into work engaging relation when air under pressure is delivered thereto, and an air conduit leading to said assembly, said boring machine comprising a drill head movable toward and from said clamp, a shiftable valve arranged, in one position, to deliver air under pressure to said conduit and in the other position to exhaust air therefrom to atmosphere, an abutment carried by the head, positioned when the head is withdrawn, to engage and shift the said valve to the second mentioned position, said abutment being disengageable from said valve upon initiation of movement of the head toward the clamp, and means for shifting the valve to the first mentioned position when so disengaged by the abutment whereby 9 the Work is clamped as the head approaches the clamp, said mechanism being shifted to the second position by said abutment surface upon return of the head toits original position, to release the work from the clamp.

5. In a boring machine; a cylinder having centrally apertured heads at its ends, a sleeve slidably mounted in fluid-tight relation in the apertures in said heads, a member non-rotatably fixed to one end of the sleeve, a piston fast on said sleeve in the cylinder, a rotatable shaft extending through the sleeve having a splined rear end and a forward end journalled in the member, a rotatably mounted hub having a splined connection with the rear end of the shaft, means for rotating the hub and the shaft, rearwardly projecting guiding rods attached to said member, guide blocks fixed with respect to the cylinder providing guide ways slidably receiving the guiding rods, thereby preventing rotation of the member and the sleeve, and means for delivering fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the piston, the sleeve, the member, the guiding means and the rotatable shaft.

6. In a boring machine; a cylinder having cen trally apertured heads at its ends, a pair of valve housings fixed to the cylinder having guideways therein, one of said housings having ports communicating with the interior of the cylinder, a sleeve slidably mounted in fluid-tight relation in the apertures in said heads, a member non-rotatably fixed to one end of the sleeve, a. piston fast on said sleeve in the cylinder, a pair of guide rods carried by the member extending through the said guideways and thereby preventing rotation of the member relative to the cylinder, means extending through the sleeve for delivering power under pressure to said one of said valve housings and to the cylinder to reciprocate the piston, the sleeve, the member and the guide rods.

7. In a boring machine; a cylinder, a pair of valve housings fixed to the cylinder, each having a guideway therein, a valve body in each housing having a stem projecting outwardly therefrom, a member at the forward end of the cylinder, guide rods extending rearwardly from the member and slidable in the guideways in said housings, a piston in the cylinder for reciprocating the member and the guide rods, means movable with the member and rods having surfaces positioned to engage and disengage the valve stems to control the positions of the valve bodies, and means controlled by one of said valve bodies for delivering fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the piston, the member and the guide rods.

FRED I. JOHNSON.

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